Clutch.



No. 755,550. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

C. M. RHODES. CLUTCH.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 17, 1902.

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PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

0. M. RHODES.

CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1902.

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N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented March 22, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,550, dated March 22, 1904.

Application filed November 17, 1902. Serial No. 131,646. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLns M. RHODES, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of

which the following is a specification, refer ence being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

to which my improvement is attached extends,

said casing being supported in any desired manner and having arranged therein a pair of disks which are fixed upon the shaft, so as to rotate'therewith. Arranged between these disks is a loosely-mounted member which is provided with peripheral extensions which operate brake-shoes, so that the same will be alternately thrown into and out of engagement with the peripheries of the said fixed disks.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central horizontal sectional view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of my improvement and the casing thereof, being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a fragmen tary central vertical cross-section of the device. Fig. 4c is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 4: 4c of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the brake-shoe-operating member removed.

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable casing, which is formed of the sections 1 and 2, respectively, which sections are preferably secured together by means of the transversely-arranged bolts 3. These casingsections are provided with oppositelyarranged guideways and the inwardly-projecting ribs 4:, the function of which will be hereinafter explained.

5 indicates a power-shaft on which my improvement is arranged, and, as heretofore stated, my invention being adapted in particular to automobiles the said shaft 5 would indicate the rear axle thereof; but it will be obvious that my improvement is capable of being used in connection with any machinery in which a power-shaft is employed. Upon the shaft 5 and within the casing I arrange a 7 member or disk 6, having a frictional surface,

said disk being rigidly secured to the said shaft and being provided at one of its sides with an integral stepped hub, and thereby providing the annular shoulders 7 and 8, respectively. Arranged upon the outer annular shoulder or stepped portion 8 is a second friction member or disk 9, the same being keyed thereon through the medium of the key 10, so that it will rotate in unison with the heretofore-mentioned disk 6.

Loosely mounted upon the annular shoulder 7 of the hub is a member 11, the same be ing provided at diametrically opposite points with outwardly projecting extensions 12, which extensions are each formed with an eccentrically-arranged cam-slot 13.

1e 14 indicate brake-shoes, one of which is arranged on each side of each extension 12 and being connected by means of the connecting-pins 15, which pins project through and are slidably arranged in the cam-slots 13.

16 indicates projecting portions formed in tegral with the outer face of each of the brake-shoes and being arranged in the guideways 4: of the casing, whereby the said brakeshoes will slide therein as they are being forced into and out of engagement therewith.

17 indicates the wear or face plates of the brake-shoes, and as will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings I provide novel means whereby the wear upon the said shoes can be provided for, so as to at all times insure a perfect brake. To accomplish this object, I provide or mount within each brakeshoe two or more adjusting screws 18, said adjusting-screws having the inner ends swiveled in their outer faces of the face-plates of the brake-shoes, and it will therefore be obvious that by operating the said screws the said plates can be forced outwardly from the shoe and thereby take up any wear upon the face-plates thereof.

By connecting the shoes M by means of the pins 15 I provide means whereby each camslot will actuate one pair of shoes as the member 11 is operated.

The operation of my improvement is as follows: It being desired to apply the brakes, the handle 19, which is formed integral with the said loosely mounted disk 11, is operated in the direction of the arrow, whereby through the medium of the pins 15 and eccentric slots 13 the brake-shoes are drawn inwardly into engagement with the peripheries of the revolving disks 6 and 9, respectively. To release the brakes,'as will be obvious, the operating-arm 19 is operated in the reverse direction.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that by providing the plurality of bearing-faces and arranging the brake-shoes as specified the braking qualities are such as to render the device a very practical one, and it will be further noted that the arrangement of the shoe-operating mechanism in combination with the revolving disks produces a very compact construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the shaft and the fixed friction members mounted thereon, of brake-shoes slidably mounted at a point exterior of the peripheries of said friction members, and means arranged between the said friction members for forcing the said brakeshoes into engagement with the peripheries thereof.

a 2. The combination with the casing formed with guideways, of a shaft projecting through the said casing, friction members secured on the said shaft, brake-shoes slidably mounted in the said guideways, and means for forcing the said brake-shoes-into and out of engagement with the said friction members.

3. The combination with the shaft and the friction members fixed thereon, of brake-shoes arranged at points exterior of the periphery of the said friction members, and means for simultaneously operating the said shoes to engage with the said friction members.

4. The combination with the shaft and the friction members of a movable member formed with cam-slots, brake-shoes, and pins secured to the said brake-shoes and arranged in the said slots.

5. The combination with a plurality of rotatable members, and means for rotating the said members, of brake-shoes arranged adjacent the periphery of the said members, said brake-shoes being arranged in pairs, a pin connecting each pair of shoes, and a looselymounted member arranged between the said rotatable members and being formed with eccentrically-disposed slots in which the said pins are arranged.

6. The combination with the shaft, of a pair of disks fixed upon the said shaft, a looselymounted member arranged between the said disks, said last-named member being formed with eccentric cam-slots, a shoe arranged adjacent the periphery of each of the said disks and means for connecting the said shoes, said means projecting through the slots of the said movable member, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination with the shaft, of a disk fixed upon the said shaft, there being a hub formed integral with the said disk, 2. second disk fixed upon the outer end of the said hub, brake-shoes arranged adjacent the peripheries of the said disks, means for securing the said brake-shoes in pairs, and a loosely-mounted member arranged between the said disks and engaging the said means for operating the brake-shoes, substantially as and for the pur pose specified.

8. The combination with the casing formed with guideways and a shaft projecting through the said casing, of a plurality ofmembers fixed upon the said shaft, brake-shoes arranged in the said guideways of the casing, and means arranged in the said casing for operating the brake-shoes into and out of engagement with the said members.

9. The combination with the casin g provided with an opening and the shaft projecting therethrough,of a pair of disks fixed upon the shaft, brake shoes, a loosely-mounted member for forcing the said brake-shoes into and out of engagement with the said disks, and an operating lever secured to the last-named member and projecting through an opening in the said cas- 10. The combination with the shaft, of a disk fixed upon the shaft, there being a stepped hub formed integral with the said disk, a second disk keyed upon the outer stepped portion of the, said hub, a loosely-mounted member arranged on the inner stepped portion of the said hub, brake-shoes arranged adjacent the pe ripheries of the said disks, and means carried by the said loosely-mounted member for operating the said brake-shoes.

11. The combination with the casing provided with guideways, of a shaft projecting through the said casing, a disk fixed upon the said shaft, there being a hub formed integral with the said disk, a second disk fixed upon the said hub, brake-shoes slidably mounted in the guideways of the said casing, pins connecting the said brake-shoes whereby the latter are arranged in pairs, and a member loosely mounted upon thesaid hub between the disks and provided with cam-slots through which the said pins project, substantially as described.

12. The combination with the casing formed with guideways and the shaft projecting through the said casing, of friction members mounted on the said shafts, brake-shoes, pins connecting the said brake-shoes, said brakeshoes having extended portions arranged in the said guideways, and means for forcing the said shoes into and out of engagement with the said friction members.

13. The combination with the shaft, and the fixed friction members mounted thereon, of a movable member having extended portions formed with cam-slots, brake-shoes, and a connecting means for the said brake-shoes, said connecting means being arranged in the said cam-slots, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

14. The combination with the shaft, and the friction members mounted thereon, of a movable member having extended portions formed CHARLES M. RHODES.

Witnesses:

N. MORTON, JOHN P. MEANS. 

